So you’ve decided to build a construction company. It’s likely that you already have experience in the industry and a passion for construction, but you need more than that to set up your own firm.
Building a business is kind of like constructing a house. It takes a lot of planning, a great team, the right equipment, and a welcoming market. In short, your business is going to need the help of other businesses.
A staffing agency
Construction isn’t a one-man show. It’s a collaborative enterprise that requires the expertise of different kinds of workers and craftsmen. You may need people good with wood, an expert on marble, someone competent in concrete, a welder, an electrician, a plumber, and more.
You can definitely start small, maybe with a group of family and friends, and you may need them to be in charge of various tasks, but the important thing is to have a team.
As you expand, however, you’re going to need more workers, and this is where it will help to engage with a legitimate and trustworthy staffing agency. This will not only help your company grow, but it will also help provide a livelihood for other workers.
An equipment supplier
Now that you have people ready to work, you will need to equip them with the right tools. Depending on the scale of your projects, you’re going to need heavy construction equipment and machinery.
This is perhaps one of the biggest early investments you’re going to make. This is why it’s essential to do a lot of planning on how you’re going to spend your starting capital. It would be reasonable to start by renting the equipment first, but in the long run, it might be more cost-efficient to have your own.
As you move along, you will also need to regularly maintain and occasionally repair your equipment. The good thing is that some equipment sellers also repair diesel engines and other mechanical issues.
A source of materials
You have the people to build it and the tools they need to do it, but what exactly is “it”?
You’re a construction company, so you need a reliable and affordable source of construction materials. From wood to concrete and stone, you’ll need to canvass for a good, preferably local supplier.
This would also be a good time to think about the environmental impact that your construction business will have. You will need to reflect on how sustainable or harmful your construction materials are going to be, as well as the carbon footprint that you will leave behind in transporting materials and using your heavy machinery.
While it is one of the more altruistic decisions you’re going to make for your business, it can also benefit you. Many people are keener to support companies that show concern for the environment, which is also a boon to your marketing.
Speaking of marketing…
Last but not least is a solid marketing plan. Sure, if you’re just starting, hiring a marketing agency might be too much, but for growing and expanding businesses, there are essential marketing decisions to be made.
If you have extra capital initially, you can hire a small agency or a freelancer to help you develop a brand. This includes your company’s name, a logo, a brand personality, and maybe even a tagline. These are things that can help your business attract attention to stand out from the crowd.
Once your brand has been built, you’ll need to get the word out. After all, apart from word of mouth, advertising is one of the most effective ways of getting customers. You can advertise the old way, through posters, roadside billboards, ads in the newspapers, or even announcements on TV and radio.
The old way, however, seems less effective in an era wherein people are staying home and on their digital devices 24/7. It is in this reality that digital marketing becomes your best bet. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram have sections on their website that can help you build an online presence and run some ads depending on your budget.
These are things you can do on your own, especially at the beginning, but as your construction business grows, you can tap the expertise of advertising firms to really expand your market.
The construction industry is an exciting place to be in, with many opportunities to innovate, especially in terms of sustainability and environmental impact. But just as it takes a team to build a house, it also takes a team of companies to build a business.
